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Homeopathy in dentistry: A review

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International Journal of Contemporary Dental and Medical Reviews (2015), Article ID 030815, 5 Pages
REVIEW ARTICLE
Homeopathy in dentistry: Areview
Mahmoud Hoseinishad1, Azam Nosratipour2, Samineh Mozza ar Moghaddam3, Amin Khajavi4
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, 2Department of Oral and
Maxillofacial Disease Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, 3Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry,
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, 4Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Disease Center, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of
Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Homeopathy is an alternative therapy that has been used over 200 years. Homeopathic
remedies are used in dentistry to improve psychological or emotional condition of the
patients. Although the proposed homeopathic remedies are not supported by systematic
reviews, but many clinical trials and case-control studies have been published about the
e ectiveness of homeopathic remedies for oral and maxillofacial problems. This article
reviews some of this homeopathic application in dentistry.
Keywords: Alternative therapy, dentistry, homeopathy
Correspondence
Dr.Samineh Mozza ar Moghaddam,
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Mashhad
University of Medical Sciences,
Mashhad, Iran. Tel/Fax: +985138414499.
E-mail: Moghaddamsm@mums.ac.ir
Received 07August 2015;
Accepted 09September 2015
doi: 10.15713/ins.ijcdmr.87
How to cite the article:
Mahmoud Hoseinishad, Azam Nosratipour,
Samineh Mozza ar Moghaddam, “Homeopathy
in dentistry: A review”, IntJContemp Dent
Med Rev, vol. 2015, ArticleID:030815, 2015.
doi:10.15713/ins.ijcdmr.87
Introduction
Homeopathy is the alternative therapy that has been used over
200 years. It was presented for the rst time by Samuel Hanemen
(1755-1843), but its basic tents go back to Paracelsus and
Hippocrates.[1] Hanemen worked on the treatment of malaria and
found that when a healthy person used the cinchona “a plant from
which quinine was derived” symptoms of malaria appear. This was
the advent of treatment which is in accordance with the energetic
principles of healing.[2] In modern medicine the symptom are the
direct result of the disease and tries to suppress them but due to
homeopathic concept the symptoms are the signs of bodies’ e ort
to conquest disease and tries to reinforce and not to inhibit them.
Homeopathy has a holistic view to health and believes that every
disease has basic causes that the homeopathic remedies focus on
them.[1] The rst Hanemen book “organon” was published on 1810.
He introduced three laws as the basic principles of homeopathy
including law of similarity, minimum dose and individuality.
Law of Similarity
One of the main principals in homeopathy is the rule of “like cure
likes.” Due to this law a substance like co ee which can cause
insomnia can be used for the treatment of patients who su ered
from this problem. Homeopathy accentuate to symptoms more
than the external causes of the disease. A remedy for a disease is a
substance that develops similar symptoms. The actions of medicine
are tested on healthy persons. These tests are called provings.
Haneman tried di erent substances on him and other healthy
volunteers and published a book named material medical.[2]
Minimum Dose
Homeopathic drugs are product which be obtained from
consecutive attenuation of a substance in alcohol or distilled
water. This process called potentiation. Because of the
substances are diluted they triggers the body’s natural system of
healing. Immunization is based on the law of similarity. The law
of similarity is in accordance with the Arndt-Schulz law. Due to
this law every drug in small doses has stimulating e ect whereas
this substance has an inhibitory e ect on larger doses.[3]
Individuality
In homeopathy, all of patient’s symptoms are matched to a
distinct remedy. The patients’ symptoms are not only physical
but also include the emotional and mental. The patients’ traits
Homeopathy in dentistry Hoseinishad, et al.
2
such as food preferences, temperature preferences, and other
personal characteristics should be regarded. Hereupon with one
remedy several problems can be cured.[2]
Homeopathic Drugs
Homeopathic drugs are prescribed in two ways. One the
prescription of a drug for a speci c disease or chief complaint
and another for an individual based on his or her temperament.
Homeopathy is not in contrast with the modern medicine, but
it can be used as an adjunctive therapy with them speci cally for
the diseases that conventional medicine were not e ective for
them or have adverse side e ects.[2]
Critics on Homeopathy
Homeopaths claimed that their drugs are much diluted and in
such a concentration they have therapeutic e ects and triggers
natural healing. This principal is the most controversial law in
homeopathy. After potentiation process no residue of original
substance can be traced and after 12 decimal dilutions the water
molecules just have a memory of original substance.[3] This issue
is the most controversial debate in homeopathy. The society of
homeopaths (SOH) admits that scienti cally it cannot yet be
explained precisely that how homeopathy works. There is no
high-quality evidence that homeopathy is e ective, and its basic
principles don’t seem logical and have not the scienti c supports.
The proposed homeopathic remedies are not supported
by systematic reviews. Many believed that studies which
referred prepared outdated and misleading documents and the
e ectiveness of these remedies might be due to placebo e ect.[4]
Homeopathic Organization
These are three homeopathic organization include SOH which
provides registration for professional homeopaths has its code
of ethics and practice,[5] British homeopathic association which
promote homeopathy practices by doctors and own other
health care professionals[6] and, Faculty of homeopaths which
promotes academic and scienti c development of homeopathy
and ensures the highest standards in educational, training
and practice of homeopathy.[7] British Homeopathic Dental
Association (BHDA) is the only organization works on the
homeopathy in the eld of dentistry. BHDA aims to promote
the use of homeopathy within the dental profession and to
advance the professional understanding of the subject. (The
BHDA recommend that patients should try to nd dentists who
completed training by the FOH.[8]
Homeopathic Applications in Dentistry
In dentistry, homeopathic remedies have been proposed for
oral ulcers, sialorrhea, neuralgia, temporomandibular joint
disorders, xerostomia, lichen plan, and bruxism. However, there
is not enough evidence to support them. Di erent situations and
relative homeopathic drugs are shown in Table 1.[9-19]
Condition Symptoms Remedy Prescription
Toothache Chamomilla 200C 1 h before procedure-repeated
every 15min up to 6 doses
Delayed tooth eruption Calc carb 30C Twice a week
Apprehension/anxiety Trepidation with lethargy Gelsemium 30C Morning and evening and 1 h
before procedure
Trepidation with hyperactivity Arg.nit 30C Morning and evening and 1 h
before procedure
Reduction of scar formation a er
surgery
iosinamic 6C+silica
6C+arnica 6C+anagallis
6C+benzoic acid 6C
3times daily for 5days a er
surgery
Dry socket Belladonna 30C Every hour
Co ea 30C Every 15min
Hepar sulph6C Every 4 h
Abrasion(due to instrumentation
and manipulation)
Hypericum and Calendula ree times daily
Bleeding Persistent-red bright Phophorus 30C Every 15min
Persistent-dark blood Lachesis 30C Every hour
Trauma Bruising or fracture, chronic problems Arnica 30C ree times daily
Bruising or fracture, acute problems Arnica 30C Every hour up to 6 doses
Nerve damage Hypericum 30C Every hour
Table 1: Remedies recommended for di erent conditions
Contd...
Hoseinishad, et al. Homeopathy in dentistry
3
Condition Symptoms Remedy Prescription
Puncture wounds Ledum 30C Every hour
Incisional wound Staphysagria 15C Every hour
Sore jaws-improved by warmth Mayphos 30C Every hour
Sore jaws-not improved by warmth Arnica 30C Every hour
Abcess Initially with throbbing and mild Belladonna 30C Every half hour
Halitosis, excessive salivation Merc sol 6C Every hour
Obvious pus Hepar sulph6C Every 2 h
Swollo-numbness Myristica 6X Every hour
Draining pus Silica 6C Twice daily
Aphtous ulcers Nervous patient Barox 30C Every 4 h
Foul breath, large tongue retains the
imprint of teeth
Merc sol 30C Every 4 h
Yellow base, swollen uvula Kalibich 30C Every 4 h
Bleeding base Nit. Acid 30C Every 4 h
Oral candidiasis Borax 4X Twice daily
Sulphur 30C Twice daily
Hypersalivation During sleep Baryta carbonica
Swollen gums that bleed easily Phosphorus
Xerostomia Great thirst Bryonia alba
No thirst Pulsatilla
Bruxism During sleep Cina 30C 1 h before sleep
While awake Nux vomica 30C ree times a week
Gingivitis Heavily coated tongue Merc sol 30C ree times daily
Clean tongue Nit. Acid 30C ree times daily
Destruction of tissue Kali chlor 30C ree times daily
Sore gums following scaling Arnica 30C Every 2 h
Halitosis Carboveg 30C+Merc sol 30C Every 2 h
Periodontitis Bleeding gum, foul breath, large tongue Merc sol 6C One time daily
Bleeding gum+substantial loss of bone Phosphorus 15C One time daily
TMJ dysfunction Pain in joint on swallowing Arum triphyllum
Hypermobile joint Calcarea  ourica
Pian in mouth opening Calcarea phosphorica
Vertigo, nusea, tinnitus Carbo vegetabilis
Low pain threshold, unbearable spasm
of pain radiating to ear
Chamomilla
Trismus Cuprum metallicum
Painful crack Granatum
Pain radiating to ear, teeth, throat Phytolacca decandra
Joint sti ness Rhus toxicodendron
TMJ: Temporomandibular joint
Table 1: Contd...
Constitutional Types
By examining person’s craniofacial structures, we can de ne his
or her constitutional type. Based on the theory of constitutional
typing by Nebel and Vannier. Skeletal and dental structures
consist of three calcium salts or calcareas: Carbonate, phosphate,
and uoride. Each of these salts impregnates our teeth and bones
Homeopathy in dentistry Hoseinishad, et al.
4
and thereby is responsible for di erent anatomical characteristics
and di erent metabolic types and di erent disease presentation.
Every ones belongs to one of these three constitutional types:
Calcarea carbonica, calcarea phosphoricum and calcarea
uricum. Based on which salt predominates in our structures.
While it is common to see individuals who exhibit combinations
of these three constitutional types but one type will always
predominant.[20]
Calcarea Carbonica
They had a broad forearm, large jaws, white and well-aligned
teeth. Their teeth erupt slowly with di cult teething, and their
tongue is dry. Their teeth are very sensitive to coldness. They
don’t like to talk and are very resistant to any change. They are
logical and good with mathematics. Their bones, joints, and
muscles are as rigid and in exible as their opinions. They tend
to develop hypertension, hypothyroidism, and obesity due to
failure to remove toxins from body and are prone to digestive
complaints. The remedies prescribed to eliminate toxins are nat.
em, kali carb, iodum, arsenicum album, phosphorours, stannum.
Calcarea Fluoricum
Their muscles and ligaments are very lax, producing s shape
posture. Their bones are deformed. Their teeth are irregular
aligned, and they have maxillary protrusion. They have
instability both mentally and physically, dislike exercise and have
little physical endurance and cannot concentrate on anything
for a long period of time. Their temperature is unstable. They
have little control over their reactions and will say whatever is
on their mind. They tend toward arteriosclerosis, arthritis, and
hypertension. Their major remedies include mercurius, aurum
metalicum, argenticum nitricum, kali bichromicum, platina,
nitricum acidum, baryta carbonica and syphilinum.
Calcarea Phosphoricum
They have long arms and legs. The skull is long (front to back)
and narrow. The forehead is elevated and nose strong. The teeth
are ovale and have yellow cast to them. The palate is narrow
with a gothic (high) vault. They are very imaginative and artistic
and don’t tolerate manual labor or any regularity in their life.
They have long eyelashes. They tend toward hyperthyroidism,
palpitation and tuberculosis.[20]
The characteristics of three calcarea groups are shown in
Table 2.
Conclusion
Homeopathy is an alternative therapy that seems to be e ective
in cases of treatment failure to conventional drugs. Because
there isn’t any strong evidence to support its remedies, a note
of caution should be applied. Although the homeopathy
appears to be a physician’s option for treatment of disease but
more evidence are required to rmly establish the eld of its
use. We recommended more research be done to evaluate
the e ectiveness of homeopathic remedies for treatment of
conditions that seem to be dependent on spiritual and mental
conditions of patients or the conventional drugs just have
alleviative e ect and poor response.
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Table2: Characteristics of di erent calcarea groups
Organ Calcarea carbonica Calcarea phosphoricum Calcarea  ouricum
Skeleton Strong and thick Fragile Irregular, exostoses
Orofacial Large, broad head, open fontanelles Elongated head, open fontanelles Asymmetrical head
Jaws and arches Large elliptical Narrow elongated, elliptical V shaped, irregular
Vault(palate) Low Gothic Narrow and very deep
Tooth eruption Delayed and di cult dentition Early but painful teething Teeth erupt out of normal sequence
Teeth White with broad stocky crowns, upper
incisor  at and square, sensitive to cold
Yellow and long upper incisor,
rectangular with curved facial surfaces
Grey white teeth, gum boils, sensitive to
pressure and eating, looseness of teeth
Occlusion Teeth well aligned O en malposition in anterior teeth Irregularly set into arches(forward and
backward malposition)
TMJ Strong and tight Fine and slack Hyper stretch
TMJ: Temporomandibular joint
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5
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... Homeopathy is an alternative treatment approach existing for over 200 years. It originated from the combination of the German words homoios, which means "similar" or "alike," and pathos, which signifies "sensation" and "illness," and their origins were derived from the Greek words homoios and patheia (1,2,3). The origins of homeopathy trace back to Hippocrates; however, owing to its unknown mechanism of action, it continues to be a subject of debate among scientists, regarding it as a controversial topic. ...
... The origins of homeopathy trace back to Hippocrates; however, owing to its unknown mechanism of action, it continues to be a subject of debate among scientists, regarding it as a controversial topic. It is often labeled as pseudoscientific (2,4,5). However, it has become a cultural component of many countries and has rapidly gained popularity worldwide since the mid-1990s (3,6). ...
... Considered as part of holistic dentistry, homeopathy is used to address issues such as dental phobia, tooth decay, and toothache (67,68,69). Table 2 presents symptoms related to various diseases and the homeopathic remedies that can be used for these symptoms (2). In addition to these agents, toothpastes and lip balms are suitable for homeopathic approaches and treatments. ...
... The strength of Homoeopathic medicine lies in its evident effectiveness. (Sanadhya YK et al.,2013, Hoseinishad M et al.,2015. Briefly, Homoeopathy is one of the healing systems that deal with the sick to cure illness, based on certain principles of healing "Similia Similibus Curentur''. ...
... Homoeopathic medicines have been used in everyday practice as a treatment from acute to chronic pathology in dental conditions: for example -toothache, burning mouth, dental delay, post-operative condition dental anxiety, dental abscess, diseases related to gingiva and periodontium, bleeding, bleeding following dental surgeries, delayed tooth eruption, oral ulcerations, oral herpetic lesions, teething (Sanadhya YK et al.,2013).It is also suitable for those conditions, where conventional medicine falls short. In dentistry, Homoeopathic prescriptions are related to a combination of constitutional and pathological prescriptions (Sanadhya YK et al.,2013, Hoseinishad M et al.,2015, Kardanpour G et al.,2016. Homeopathy cannot replace the mechanical parts of dentistry but can be used in addition to conventional treatments and have various ways that can be included in the dental practice either as a substitute for conventional medications (Eames S et al., 2011, Sanadhya YK et al.,2013 (Hoseinishad M et al.,2015). ...
... In dentistry, Homoeopathic prescriptions are related to a combination of constitutional and pathological prescriptions (Sanadhya YK et al.,2013, Hoseinishad M et al.,2015, Kardanpour G et al.,2016. Homeopathy cannot replace the mechanical parts of dentistry but can be used in addition to conventional treatments and have various ways that can be included in the dental practice either as a substitute for conventional medications (Eames S et al., 2011, Sanadhya YK et al.,2013 (Hoseinishad M et al.,2015). Arsenicum album, Ferrum phosphoricum, Nux vomica (pain, gums that bleed after brushing), Hypericum(tender gum tissue and to promote healing), Natrum muriaticum (maintenance of the Tissue integrity), Hepar sulphuris (Used for tissue with suppuration, chronic abscesses), Silicea (Periodontal abscess with swollen glands, Staphysagria (Loose teeth, pain worse by pressure), Symphytum(Injuries to the periosteum, stimulates the growth of epithelium on ulcerated surfaces), Phosphorous (swollen gums that bleed easily and in cases of hyper-salivation), Aranea diadema (injured bone and alveolitis) were used for acute and chronic dental problem and result were found effective (Sanadhya YK et al.,2013, Steinlechner F et al.,1984. ...
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... [4] 3. The law of Minimum Dose: A substance when given in minute dose will cure the disease in sick person but when given in large dose to a healthy person it will produce symptoms of that disease. [5] 4. Concept of Vital Force: Homeopathic doctors believe in the existence of the vital force in the body which is responsible for different manifestations of life, and the derangement of this vital force leads to abnormal sensations and body function which constitute the disease. [1] Origin of dental diseases-Homeopathic medicine offers dentistry which one might not have wondered. ...
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... If the disease is cured then the Vital force maintains its normal harmony [10][11][12][13][14] . Gupta et al. [15] Kreosote: "Pains from teeth to left side of the face, extending to temples and ears; teeth decay rapidly & bad odor from decayed teeth; facial pains burning, patient excitable, nervous, children even convulsions; Gums bluish-red, inflamed, on upper left side spongy, scorbutic, discharging dark blood". ...
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Various types of natural and spiritual healing methods is being practised as Alternative medicine treatments. These treatments can either be practiced individually or in combination with other conventional treatment for the purpose of relaxing mind, body and soul. Alternative medicines are in practice since ancient time and are practiced globally till date. Every country has its own conventional system of health. Presently, Alternative medicine is assimilated in many feilds including dental. Results from few studies conducted has shown significant effect of holistic healing on dental and oral health. This article reviews about impact of alternative medicine in treating dental health and problems associated with it.
... [4] In dentistry, homeopathic remedies have been proposed for oral ulcers, sialorrhea, neuralgia, temporomandibular joint disorders, xerostomia, and lichen planus. [25,26] Calendula officinalis (CO) is the extract of the flowers of pot marigold (Asteraceae Family), usually prepared in alcoholic tincture. [27][28][29] It has been used for its anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antitumor, and cicatrizing effects. ...
Article
Background Endodontic infections require effective removal of microorganisms from the root canal system for long-term prognosis. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is one of the most effective irrigants, but it's few drawbacks warrant search for newer alternatives. Aim The aim of this study is to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of Calendula officinalis (CO) and 2% CHX against Enterococcus faecalis ( E. faecalis ) and Candida albicans ( C. albicans ). Materials and Methods The antimicrobial activity of CO extract and 2% CHX against E. faecalis and C. albicans was checked by the agar diffusion method and the zone of inhibition was statistically analyzed. Results CHX has significantly more antimicrobial activity than CO against E. faecalis and C. albicans . However, CO also possesses reasonable antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis and antifungal activity against C. albicans . Conclusion Under the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that CO has antimicrobial and antifungal activity against E. faecalis and C. albicans ; however, CHX is more potent.
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Article
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Article
The objectives of this study were to clinically determine the efficacy of individualised homeopathy in the treatment of minor recurrent aphthous ulceration (MiRAU). A randomized, single blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of individualised homeopathy. One hundred patients with minor aphthous ulcer were treated with individualised homeopathic medicines or placebo and followed up for 6 days. Patients received two doses of individualised homeopathic medicines in the 6C potency as oral liquid at baseline and 12 h later. Pain intensity and ulcer size were recorded at baseline during and at the end of the trial (mornings of days 4 and 6). All 100 patients completed treatment. Between group differences for pain intensity and ulcer size were statistically significant at day 4 and at day 6 (P<0.05). No adverse effects were reported. The results suggest that homeopathic treatment is an effective and safe method in the treatment of MiRAU.
Article
This article describes a survey of new clients entering care with nine practicing classical homeopaths in the Los Angeles metropolitan area between January 1994 and July 1995. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire before undergoing diagnosis by the homeopath. Follow-up interviews were conducted by phone 1 month after diagnosis and face to face 4 months after diagnosis, along with a self-administered questionnaire before the final interview. A total of 104 participants entered the study; 77 completed all data collection. Clients sought homeopathic care for a wide array of largely chronic conditions. Respiratory, gastrointestinal, and female reproductive problems were the most common primary complaints. Most clients were highly educated, but had limited knowledge about homeopathy before entering treatment. Approximately 80% reported earlier, unsuccessful attempts to get relief from mainstream care. Four months after treatment, general measures of health status showed improvement, and only 29% of participants reported no improvement for the primary complaint leading to treatment. Satisfaction with homeopathic treatment was high regardless of outcome. Three outcome measures of perceived change--overall health status, primary condition for which treatment was sought, and outlook on life--were predicted by different combinations of study variables. Homeopathy does not divert people from seeking mainstream care. The use of alternative modes of care such as homeopathy can be understood as attractive and satisfying to educated individuals with chronic problems.
Article
Twenty-eight patients with xerostomia participated in a blind, placebo-controlled longitudinal study of the possible effects of homeopathic medicines on oral discomfort. All patients were first divided in two groups according to their medication. After that the two groups were randomly assigned according to a coin-toss to the experimental or control group. Most patients had systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and/or Sjögren's syndrome, and frequent daily medications. The randomly selected experimental group (n=15) got an individually prescribed homeopathic medicine and the control group (n=13) a placebo substance (sugar granules), both for 6 weeks. Neither group knew of the nature of the medicine. Oral dryness was evaluated by measurement of unstimulated and wax-stimulated salivary flow rates and visual analogue scale. With only two exceptions, the experimental group experienced a significant relief of xerostomia whereas no such effect was found in the placebo group. Stimulated salivary flow rate was slightly higher with homeopathy than placebo but no consistent changes occurred in salivary immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG) levels. In an open follow-up period those receiving homeopathic medicine continued treatment and the placebo group patients were treated with individually prescribed homeopathic medicines. The symptoms of xerostomia improved in both groups. Our results suggest that individually prescribed homeopathic medicine could be a valuable adjunct to the treatment of oral discomfort and xerostomic symptoms.
Article
To evaluate individualized classical homeopathy in the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN) METHOD: 15 patients with physician-confirmed trigeminal neuralgia were treated with homeopathy. Patients received individualized homeopathic medicines as oral liquid 30C once per month and were followed-up at the end of first, second, third and fourth month. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for the evaluation of pain intensity and descriptive criteria were used for evaluation of attack frequency. All 15 patients completed treatment. The results for both the reduction of pain intensity and attack frequency were statistically significant (P<0.001) during the four-month evaluation. We observed overall reductions of more than 60% in pain intensity using homeopathic treatment. The results suggest that homeopathic treatment is an effective and safe method in the treatment of ITN.
Article
A base for targeted research development in dental homeopathy can be founded on systematic collection and analysis of relevant data obtained by dentists in clinical practice. With these longer-term aims in mind, we conducted a pilot data collection study, in which 14 homeopathic dentists collected clinical and outcome data over a 6-month period in their practice setting. A specifically designed Excel spreadsheet enabled recording of consecutive dental appointments under the following main headings: date; patient identity (anonymised), age and gender; dental condition/complaint treated; whether chronic or acute, new or follow-up case; patient-assessed outcome (7-point Likert scale: -3 to +3) compared with first appointment; homeopathic medicine/s prescribed; whether any other medication/s being taken for the condition. Spreadsheets were submitted monthly via e-mail to the project co-ordinator for data synthesis and analysis. Practitioners typically submitted data regularly and punctually, and most data cells were completed as required, enabling substantial data analysis. The mean age of patients was 46.2 years. A total of 726 individual patient conditions were treated overall. There was opportunity to follow-up 496 individual cases (positive outcome in 90.1%; negative in 1.8%; no change in 7.9%; outcome not recorded in 0.2%). Sixty-four of these 496 patients reported their outcome assessment before the end of the homeopathic appointment. Strongly positive outcomes (scores of +2 or +3) were achieved most notably in the frequently treated conditions of pericoronitis, periodontal abscess, periodontal infection, reversible pulpitis, sensitive cementum, and toothache with decay. This multi-practitioner pilot study has indicated that systematic recording of practice data in dental homeopathy is both feasible and capable of informing future research. A refined version of the spreadsheet can be employed in larger-scale research-targeted data collection in the dental practice setting.